Capture all the action for websites, newsletters, matchday programmes and for selling in stories or match reports to local media. In the age of digital photography, it’s simple for club volunteers to obtain great pictures, but there are a few tips to getting the right result.
1. Use a good quality digital camera, either one owned by a club official or consider buying a club camera if you have the funds. Make sure you set the camera to the highest quality resolution settings for the best outcome.
2. Action photography is an art form and the media use specially-trained photographers with state-of-the-art equipment. Get some practice by taking shots at different matches, trying to focus on the ball at the centre of the action, zooming in on 2-3 players and not cutting heads off! Static photos are easier to capture – pre-match team shots, and head-and-shoulder ‘pen pic’ photographs.
2. If you intend to take photos of under-16s or vulnerable adults, then you will need to obtain parental consent. Read the full safety guidelines involving the taking and using of photography of young people.
4. You will need to think about who/where the club’s photos are stored. You can do this on a club or club official’s laptop, but consider backing-up images via CD, memory stick or an online portal such as Flickr.
5. For start/end of season team photos or awards evenings, it may be better for your club to arrange for a professional photographer to be present. If you don’t have a contact, speak to your league who may be able to recommend someone or a local newspaper. They will also be able to do prints for players or parents to purchase directly and may offer you a commission on sales.